Junction box

ABSTRACT

A junction box for the termination tapping or splicing or electrical conductors is formed of three interleaved portions; a cover portion, an intermediate portion and a base portion. Mounted upon one surface of the intermediate portion are a plurality of conductor connectors each capable of receiving electrical conductors without piercing the insulation thereon and making electrical contact therewith. Such connectors are provisioned for receiving and making electrical contact with additional electrical conductors having terminal thereon such as to provide a conductive path between conductors within the insulation piercing portion and that created by a terminal. Straining relief means are provided adjacent the free ends of the conductors place in the insulating piercing portion of the connectors for holding and aligning such conductors prior to, during, and after the insulation piercing operation has taken place. Additional straining relief devices may be provided adjacent the entry to the conductor connectors so that unwanted removal of the conductors from such connectors may not be made.

Unite States tent 11 1 Martin 1 1 Feb. 6, 1973 1 1 JUNCTION BOX [75] Inventor: Harold W. Martin, Warren, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Thomas 8: Betts Corporation, Elizabeth, NJ.

[22] Filed: March 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 236,689

[52] US. Cl ..l74/59, 339/98 [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lr 13/46 [58] Field of Search 174/59, 60; 339/97 R, 98, 99 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,417,192 12/1968 Elm ..174/59 3,258,733 6/1966 Elm ..339/98 3,320,354 5/1967 Marley et al... ..339/98 X 3,594,712 7/1971 Enright ..339/97 X Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gilheany Assistant Examiner-D. A. Tone Attorney-David Teschner et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A junction box for the termination tapping or splicing or electrical conductors is formed of three interleaved portions; a cover portion, an intermediate portion and a base portion. Mounted upon one surface of the intermediate portion are a plurality of conductor connectors each capable of receiving electrical conductors without piercing the insulation thereon and making electrical contact therewith. Such connectors are provisioned for receiving and making electrical contact with additional electrical conductors having terminal thereon such as to provide a conductive path between conductors within the insulation piercing portion and that created by a terminal. Straining relief means are provided adjacent the'free ends of the conductors place in the insulating piercing portion of the connectors for holding and aligning such conductors prior to, during, and after the insulation piercing operation has taken place. Additional straining relief devices may be provided adjacent the entry to the conductor connectors so that unwanted removal of the conductors from such connectors may not be made.

10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENIEUFEB a ma Ullwo F1 G. 2

PATENTEUFEU 6 i975 SHEET 2 0F 5 snm 3 or s PATENTED FEB 6 i973 PATENTEIJ'FEB 6 I975 3.715.450

, SHEET 5 OF 5 JUNCTION BOX BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is directed to the field of terminating, tapping or splicing electrical conductors principally within the telephone industry and more particularly to telephone junction boxes for joining the electrical conductors of a telephone hand set with incoming electrical lines. The invention also finds utility in any field where it is desirable to terminate, tap or splice electrical conductors. r

2. Description of the Prior Art The patent to Hartz U.S. Pat. No. 3,106,602, issued Oct. 8, 1963, titled Design of Telephone Terminal Block shows a two part block consisting of a cover hingedly mounted to a base portion upon which are mounted a series of screw operated fasteners about which the individual conductors to be joined within the block are wound prior to the tightening of the fasteners. Thus, for example, a telephone feed line would be wound about a first of the screw pairs 9, the second of which would receive a conductor from the telephone hand set. After each pair of conductors are suitably mounted to the terminal member 9 the terminal blockcover is folded over and locked upon the base portion. Each wire must be separately stripped and wrapped about the associated screws. If the telephone hand set lead has a terminal already affixed to it some difficulty may be encountered if a wire and lead with terminal are to go to the same screw terminal.

In the patent to Elm, US. Pat. No. 3,417,192, issued Dec. 17, 1968, for a Junction Box, a plurality of individual connectors 18 are individually joined to their respective conductors 36. Mating pairs are assembled by means of a screw 29 for each section of terminal block 27. It is not possible with either of these devices to simply align. individual conductors within the block .and then by merely assembling the portions of the block to provide electrical contact with the individual conductors. Also, there is no strain relief provided for the respective conductorsas they enter the block and they may be simply removed therefrom by the application of excessive force along the longitudinal axis of the conductors. Excessive forces applied along the longitudinal axis of the conductors in the Elm devicemay result in their being severed by the insulation piercing teeth 43 of the connectors 18, thus leading to the destruction of the joints provided thereby.

The patent of Enright US. Pat. No. 3,594,712, issued July 20, 1971, titled Connector, describes a solderless wire connector for joining together a first conductor affixed within an insulating piercing portion of said overall connector to a second conductor having applied thereto a terminal. No overall assembly is shown whereby such a connector may be applied to a junction box of the type described herein for the rapid assembly of electrical conductors merely by the assembly'of the portions of the junction box itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to overcome the difficulties noted above with respect to prior art junction boxes by providing a simple, easily assembled and applied device composed of three hinged portions which may be interleaved for final assembly of the junction box and which provides the necessary functions of strain relief for all conductors placed within such junction box and which permits the positioning, alignment and insulation piercing of certain conductors placed therein and the mating together with other conductors previously terminated with electrical terminals. The entire assembly is provided with means in its base portion for securing the same to a mounting surface either by means of an adhesive layer affixed to the bottom of the base portion or by means of apertures in such base portion for the receipt therethrough of fastening means. The cover portion provides overall dust protection as well as protecting the individual components and assemblies of electrical conductors within 'the junction box. The intermediate portion has conductor connectors which provide all necessary insulation piercing for the insulated conductors and provides a simple means of mating together the conductors whose insulation has been stripped to other conductors having terminations in the form of terminals affixed thereto. Each of the conductor connectors are fabricated of elongate pieces of flat, thin conductive resilient metal folded to form a generally L-shaped element having two distinct arms, a first of which is bifurcated to at least two legs, creating an insulation piercing channel into which an insulated conductor may be forced to pierce the insulation thereabout to form a mechanical and electrical contact therewith. The second arm of the conductor connector provides spring fingers which can be displaced by an electrical terminal placed thereunder to retain and make electrical contact with such terminal thereby permitting a conducting path to be created between the terminated conductor and the conductor whose insulation has been pierced by the first arm of the conductor connector. A series of strain relief combs on the intermediate portion permit the'conductors which enter the junction box to be fanned out and displayed thereby facilitating the matching of conductors of similar color coding. Strain relief is also provided at the entrance of such conductors into the junction box to prevent unwanted removal therefrom. The hinged mounting of 1 the intermediate portion with respect to the base portion and the provision of a selectively operable lock between the base portion and the intermediate portion insures that the insulated conductors are-positively forced within the insulation piercing channels of the conductor connector to insure the proper piercing of the insulation of the conductors and the establishment of good electrical contact. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved junction box.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved junction box which can be simply installed on a mounting surface and which can be employed to'interconnect two groups of electrical conductors.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved junction box having at least a base portion and an intermediate portion, the assembly of which provides an insulation piercing contact with a plurality of insulated conductors inserted within the junction box.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved junction box wherein certain of the connectors to be joined have their insulation pierced by the operation of assembling the junction box thereto.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved junction box for making electrical connection between conductors the insulation of which is pierced by the assembly of the junction box and other connectors previously terminated with electrical terminals.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel form of connector for the piercing of the insulation of electrical conductors placed within a junction BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawings FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a junction box constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. 1

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the junction box of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cover portion of the junction box of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the cover portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the junction box of FIG. 1 with the cover portion open.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the junction box of FIG. 1 with the cover portion shown in the open position to expose the details of the device therein.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the junction box of FIG. 1 shown in the fully open position to expose the details of the components therein.

I FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view, in section, of a portion of the base portion taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a portion of a typical electrical cable containing four conductors and showing the manner of application of a strain relief device thereto.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a conductor connector employed with the junction box of FIG. 1.

' FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the conductor connector of FIG. 10 showing the same installed to a fragmentary portion, in section, of the intermediate portion of the junction box of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view, in section, of a fragmentary portion of the base portion of the junction box taken along the lines 12-12 of FIG. 7 and showing the manner in which the insulation of conductors is pierced by means of the conductor connector.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of an alternative lock arrangement for ajunction box of the type shown in FIG. 1.

Similar elements. will be given similar reference characters in each of the respective figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 7 there is shown a junction box 20 constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. FIG. 1 shows junction box 20 in its fully closed position, whereas FIG. 7 shows the junction box 20 in its open most condition. In an interleaved manner, intermediate portion 24 is folded over the base portion 22 and covered over by means of a cover 26. Electrical cable 28, extending from the telephone hand set, is introduced through an aperture (partially visible in FIG. 7) to the interior of the junction box 20 where it is mated, in a manner to be described below, to the conductors of a feed cable 30 introduced through an aperture 32 within a side wall 34 of the base member 22. A layer of adhesive material 36, which may be in the form of a pressure sensitive adhesive, with release paper thereover, a heat activated or otherwise activated adhesive, is placed along a bottom surface of the base portion 22 for adherance of the junction box 20 to a mounting surface, for example, a wall. Alternatively, a series of apertures 38 may be placed within a base portion 22 for the passage therethrough of fasteners (not shown) for securing of the junction box 20 to a mounting surface. Each of the conductors of the cables 28 and 30 are color coded in accordance with the various functions that the individual conductors are to serve. Thus it is necessary to match the color codings of the conductors within the cable 28 to that of the conductors within the cable 30.

A selectively operable latch member 40 is provided on the cover portion 26 for suitable engagement with the receiver portion 42 mounted upon the base portion 22. As is better seen in FIGS. 2 through 4 cover portion 26 has a bifurcated latch member 40 (see FIG. 4) having inclined faces 44 and a locking flat 46 (see FIG. 3). Latch member 40 is bifurcated to permit passage of the cable 28 therethrough without interfering with the latching function of latch member 40. The receiver 42, as seen in FIG. 2, is bifurcated as well to permit passage of the cable 28 therethrough without interfering with the function of the latch member 40. The inclined faces 44 of the latch member 40 cause the latch member 40 to be slightly deflected until such time as the locking flat 46 is adjacent the bottom surface of the receiver 42, at which time latch member 40 deflects outwardly again to prevent the separation of the latch member 40 from the receiver 42. Hinge 48 is provided between the base portion 22 and the cover portion 26 to prevent unwanted separation of these parts during assembly.

Turning now to FIG. 7, the internal details of the junction box 20 may be better appreciated. Mounted on the internal surface 50 of the base portion 22 are two transverse ribs 52, 54 which provide therebetween a recess 56 the function of which will be described in greater detail below. Mounted on the end wall 58 of base portion 22 are two arcuate partitions 60 separated by means of a space 62 sufficiently large to accept therethrough the cable 28. The combination of the two arcuate partitions 60 and end wall 58 provide strain relief for the cable 28 which has been provided with a strain relief collar, as is widely done in the telephone industry. Referring to FIG. 9 there is shown a portion of a cable 28 having affixed thereto a strain relief collar 64 of the type noted. The collar 64 has a barrel portion 66 having an open seam 68 which is closed about a cable such as the cable 28 and because of this arrangement can accept therein cables of various diameters. Affixed I at one end of the barrel portion 66 are ears 70 extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the barrel 66. By tightly crimping the barrel 66 about the cable such as 28, proper strain relief is provided for the cable when the ears 70 are properly anchored to or against a rigid surface such as end wall 58 (as seen in FIGS. 5 and 8). Also shown in FIG. 9 cable 28 is made up of four conductors 72, 74, 76 and 78. According to usual telephone practice, the separate conductors 72, 74, 76 and 78 are colored coded so that their function is readily apparent to the telephone installer. A typical color coding would be to have one of the conductors 72, 74, 76 or 78 yellow, another green, another red, and the final one black. Yellow, for example, designating the line which will be connected to the bell circuit of the telephone hand set. Once cable 28 has been positioned within the base 22 between the arcuate partitions 60, the ears 70 are brought to rest against the end wall 58 (see FIGS. 5 and 8). All forces along the longitudinal axis of the cable 28 will be absorbed and will prevent the individual conductors 72, 74, 76 and 78 from being removed from their terminal points, as will be described below.

The cable 30 is similarly made of four conductors, 80, 82, 84 and 86, (See FIG. 6) similarly color coded to identify the functions they are to serve. Each of the conductors 80, 82, 84, and 86 (See FIG. 7) is introduced about a strain relief post 88, across a conductor connector 90 to a further strain relief recess 93 and along the opposite side of the intermediate member 24. The excess portion of the conductors 80, 82, 84 and 86 are cutoff to prevent interference with the functioning of the junction box (see FIG. 6).

The conductor connector 90 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. and 11 to which reference is now made. The conductor connector 90 is fabricated from an elongate piece of flat, thin, conductive and resilient metal formed in a generally L-shape (as is better seen in FIG. 11) having vertically extending arm 92 which is bifurcated as at 94 and 96 to provide two insulation piercing channels 98 and 100. The edges defining the channels 98 and 100 are sharp so that they may pierce through the insulation of a conductor as the conductor is forced within the insulation piercing channels 98 and 100. The width of the respective channels 98 and 180 will be less than the diameter of the conductor itself and therefore less than the diameter of the insulated conductor inserted therein. The walls adjacent the channels 98 and 100 are tapered as at 102 to facilitate the entry of conductors within the channels 98 and 100 and to correctly position the conductors in these channels. The arm 92 is so proportioned that it will be received between the upstanding transverse ribs 52, 54 of the base member 22 and fit within the recess 56 as is shown in FIG. 12. In this manner, conductors partially placed within the channels 98 and 100 will be forced further into these channels to insure the piercing of the insulation as the intermediate member 24 is assembled with the base member 22. As is shown in FIG. 12, a conductor 80 has been positioned in a channel of arm 92, which in turn is positioned between ribs 52 and 54 defining recess 56. As arm 92 if forced downwardly when intermediate portion 24 is locked to base portion 22, as described below, the conductor 80 enters fully the insulation piercing channel of arm 92 which pierces the insulation of conductor 80 and makes a good electrical contact therewith. A tab 104 extends from below the arm 92 for insertion through an appropriate aperture within the intermediate portion 22, as is shown in FIG. 1 1, whereupon the tab 104 may be suitably staked to the underside of the intermediate portion 24 to secure conductor contact 90 to the intermediate portion 24. A second arm 106 extends generally horizontally with respect to the intermediate portion 24 and is bifurcated to provide fingers 108 as is better seen in FIG. 10. The bifurcated fingers 108 terminate in upturned ends 1110 to facilitate the sliding thereunder of the terminals of the individual conductors 72, 74, 76 and 78 of the cable 28,to retain and make electrical contact with such terminals. The terminals will be placed in positions along the top surface of the intermediate portion 24 between such top surface of intermediate portion 24 and spring fingers 108 of the second arm 106. Electrical contact will thus be established between the conductors terminated by means of the terminals and placed under the bifurcated fingers 108 and the conductors placed within the insu- Iation piercing channels 98 and 100 of the vertical arm 92.

To describe the operation of the junction box 20 to this point, a length of cable 30 has its outerinsulation stripped from it to expose the conductors 80, 82, 84 and 86. Each of the conductors is then fed around an individual one of the strain relief posts 88 into one of the channels 98 or 100 of the conductor contact 90, and then placed into the strain relief recesses 93. A second conductor of a similar cable might be introduced through a further aperture 32 in the opposite side wall of the base portion 22 and in a similar manner positioned about the strain relief post 88 and then into the free insulation piercing channel 98 or 100 of the conductor connector 90 and then into the aligned strain relief recess 93 associated therewith. In this manner, one can quickly observe that the wires are properly positioned and are of the same color coding. The strain relief recesses 93 will serve to hold the respective conductors 80 through 86 in their desired positions until intermediate portion 24 is fastened to the base portion 22 in a manner to be described.

Latching of the intermediate portion 24 to the base portion 22 is achieved by means of a latch button 112 mounted adjacent hinge 48 of the base portion 22 and a latch 114 on the extreme opposite end of the intermediate member 24, as is shown in FIG. 7. Latch 114 will be of the type having an inclined front face with a 7 flat top locking portion. Upon the downward movement of the intermediate portion 24, the latch 114 will be displaced by the latch button 112 until the flat portion of latch 1114 passed the latch at which time the latch 114 will be permitted to return to its normal position and the flat top locking preventing the unwanted disassembly of the intermediate portion 24 with respect to the base portion 22. If it is desired to inspect the undersurface of the intermediate member 24, the latch 114 may be separated from the latch button 112 by mere lateral movement in either direction of the intermediate portion 24 with respect to the base portion 22.

Once the conductors 80 through 86 of the cable 30 have been positioned, as described above with respect to FIG. 7, the intermediate portion 24 is folded about its hinge 59 and latch 114 is engaged with the latch button 112 so that the overall junction box 20 takes on the appearance as shown in FIG. 6. Cable 28, with the strain relief 64 crimped about it, is introduced between the bifurcated ears of the latch receiver 42 and through the space 62 between the arcuate partitions 60 and pulled slightly along its longitudinal axis until the ears 70 of the strain relief means 64 of the cable 28 engage the back wall 58 of the base 22, as was shown with respect to FIGS. and 8. The individual conductors 72, 74, 76 and 78, each terminated by means of a fork type terminal 116, 118, 120 and 122 respectively, are now terminated to the conductor connectors 90 by inserting the fork type terminals 116, 118, 120 and 122, of each of the conductors 72, 74, 76 and 78 between the upper surface of the intermediate portion 24 and the arms 106 as described above with respect to the FIG. 11. Again, by comparing the coloring of the portion of the conductors of the cable 30, which are positioned within the strain relief recesses 93 and the coloring of the individual conductors of the cable 28, it is readily apparent whether or not a proper connection has been made between the respective conductors of the cables 28 and 30. Once this installation of the conductors 72 through 78 of cable 28 has been completed and the inspection has been made, the cover portion 26 may be folded about its hinge 48 in a manner such that the latch member 40 of the cover portion 26 is caused to engage the latch receiver 42 of the base portion 24 to prevent unwanted separation of the portions of the junction box 20. Cover portion 26 provides environmental protection for the junction box to prevent dust or other undesired objects from entering the junc tion box 20 and interfering with the operation thereof. If it is desired, the cover portion 26 may be omitted in those circumstances where such protection is not necessary. It should also be noted that although a single junction box 20 for terminating four conductors of a first cable to four additional conductors of a further cable have been shown, the entire arrangement shown may be repeated as many times as is necessary and desirable in a side by side or stacked relationship so that a plurality of conductors ofa first cable may be terminated to a similar plurality of conductors of a further cable. Also, it should be noted that since conductors may be introduced from both sides of the base portion 22, it is possible to terminate two or more separate cables such as 30 to the individual conductors of a single cable 28, that is to say, two similar conductors such as the conductors 80 of cable 30 may be terminated to a single conductor 72 of the cable 28 where it is desired to have multiple junction or it is desired to carry out the incoming cable to further individual units such as on remote telephone hand sets. Alternatively, if desired, terminal strips may be fabricated in such a manner that a number of the individual intermediate portions 24 be placed along the terminal strip having a common base portion and a common cover portion so that a plurality of the conductors may be joined as it is desired.

Turning now to FIG. 13, alternative latching arrangement for the junction box of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be seen. Cover 126 has its front wall 128 extended into a latch member 130 having an inclined front face 132 and a flattened portion 134. Base portion 136 is provided with extending latch receiving arms 138 which overlie the flattened portion 134 of the latch member 130 of cover portion 126. As cover portion 126 is snapped downwardly for locking, the latch member 130 will be deflected inwardly as the inclined face 132 passes the front face of the latch receiver 138 until such time as the flat portion 134 of the latch member 130 is opposite the bottom, horizontal edge of the latch receiving member 138. At this time, the latch member 130 will be permitted to be deflected to the right of FIG. 13 such as to engage the flattened portion 134 with the horizontal lower surface of the latch receiving member 138. As is shown, the ears of the strain relief 64 of the cable 28 are trapped between the inner vertical edge of the latch receiving member 138 and the inclined face 132 of the latch member 130. By exerting a force inwardly, that is to the left of HG. 13, on the cable 28, forcing the ears 70 to engage latch member 130, the latch member can be disengaged so that the cover portion 126 can be simply opened. In this manner, it is not necessary that tools be used as may be-necessary to unlatch the latch member 40 of the junction box of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A junction box for electrical conductors comprising: a base member formed of insulating material and having a planar plate portion defined by an exterior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent a mounting surface and an interior surface; first and second transverse ribs coupled to said interior surface intermediate the ends of said planar plate portion; said first and second ribs being spaced apart from one another to provide a recess therebetween; an intermediate member formed of insulating material having first and second generally planar surfaces and first and second opposite ends; said second planar surface positionable adjacent said interior surface of said planar plate portion of said base member; hinge means coupled between said base member and said first end of said intermediate member; at least one conductor connector coupled to the second surface of said intermediate member comprising an elongate piece of flat, thin, conductive, resilient metal folded to form a generally L- shaped element having first and second arms; the free end of said second arm being positionable within said recess between said first and second ribs and having at least a pair of legs spaced apart to form at least one U- shaped insulating piercing channel to pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with the conductive portion of an electrical conductor placed between said legs of said second arm as said second arm is forced into said recess; the free end of said first arm spaced apart from said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit the receipt and engagement of a terminal member between said first arm and said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit electrical contact to be established between the terminal member and an electrical conductor placed between the legs of said second arms; and selectively operable locking means coupled to said second end of said intermediate member for engaging with said base member to lock together said base member and said intermediate member causing said second arm to enter said recess.

2. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising a cover member formed of insulating material and having a first end and a second end; and means at said first and second ends of said cover member to couple said cover member to said base member.

3. A junction box as defined in claim 1, further comprising a layer of adhesive material on the exterior surface of said planar plate portion for adhesively adhering said junction box to a mounting surface.

4. A junction box as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one aperture in said planar plate portion proportioned'to receive a fastener therethrough for affixing said junction box to a mounting surface.

5. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising first and second side walls coupled to said planar plate portion and extending in the direction of said interior surface and at least one aperture in one of said first and second side walls to permit the passage of electrical conductors through the associated side wall into said junction box.

6. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising first and second side walls coupled to said planar plate portion and extending in the direction of said interior surface; at least one aperture in one of said first and second side walls to permit the passage of electrical conductors through the associated side wall into said junction box; a first end wall coupled to said planar plate portion and said first and second side walls; a further aperture in said end wall to permit the passage of terminal members through said end wall into said junction box; and strain relief means engagable with said terminal members mounted on said end wall adjacent said further aperture.

7. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising strain relief means coupled to said second planar surface of said intermediate member adjacent the free ends of said first arm of said conductor connector for receiving and strain relieving electrical conductors placed between said pair of legs of said second arm.

8. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising: at least one conductor retaining channel extending inwardly.from said second end of said intermediate member towards said second arm to retain the 7 free ends of electrical conductors positioned in said insulating piercing channel of said second arm.

9. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a cover member formed of insulating material and having a first end and a second end; hinge means coupled between said second end of said cover member and said base member adjacent said second end of said intermediate member and further selectively operable locking means coupled between said first end of said cover member and said base member adjacent said first end of said intermediate member to lock together said cover member and said base member.

10. A junction box, as defined in claim 9, wherein said further selectively operable locking means is bifurcated to permit the passage of terminal members therebetween into said junction box. 

1. A junction box for electrical conductors comprising: a base member formed of insulating material and having a planar plate portion defined by an exterior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent a mounting surface and an interior surface; first and second transverse ribs coupled to said interior surface intermediate the ends of said planar plate portion; said first and second ribs being spaced apart from one another to provide a recess therebetween; an intermediate member formed of insulating material having first and second generally planar surfaces and first and second opposite ends; said second planar surface positionable adjacent said interior surface of said planar plate portion of said base member; hinge means coupled between said base member and said first end of said intermediate member; at least one conductor connector coupled to the second surface of said intermediate member comprising an elongate piece of flat, thin, conductive, resilient metal folded to form a generally Lshaped element having first and second arms; the free end of said second arm being positionable within said recess between said first and second ribs and having at least a pair of legs spaced apart to form at least one U-shaped insulating piercing channel to pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with the conductive portion of an electrical conductor placed between said legs of said second arm as said second arm is forced into said recess; the free end of said first arm spaced apart from said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit the receipt and engagement of a terminal member between said first arm and said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit electrical contact to be established between the terminal member and an electrical conductor placed between the legs of said second arms; and selectively operable locking means coupled to said second end of said intermediate member for engaging with said base member to lock together said base member and said intermediate member causing said second arm to enter said recess.
 1. A junction box for electrical conductors comprising: a base member formed of insulating material and having a planar plate portion defined by an exterior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent a mounting surface and an interior surface; first and second transverse ribs coupled to said interior surface intermediate the ends of said planar plate portion; said first and second ribs being spaced apart from one another to provide a recess therebetween; an intermediate member formed of insulating material having first and second generally planar surfaces and first and second opposite ends; said second planar surface positionable adjacent said interior surface of said planar plate portion of said base member; hinge means coupled between said base member and said first end of said intermediate member; at least one conductor connector coupled to the second surface of said intermediate member comprising an elongate piece of flat, thin, conductive, resilient metal folded to form a generally L-shaped element having first and second arms; the free end of said second arm being positionable within said recess between said first and second ribs and having at least a pair of legs spaced apart to form at least one U-shaped insulating piercing channel to pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with the conductive portion of an electrical conductor placed between said legs of said second arm as said second arm is forced into said recess; the free end of said first arm spaced apart from said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit the receipt and engagement of a terminal member between said first arm and said second planar surface of said intermediate member to permit electrical contact to be established between the terminal member and an electrical conductor placed between the legs of said second arms; and selectively operable locking means coupled to said second end of said intermediate member for engaging with said base member to lock together said base member and said intermediate member causing said second arm to enter said recess.
 2. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising a cover member formed of insulating material and having a first end and a second end; and means at said first and second ends of said cover member to couple said cover member to said base member.
 3. A junction box as defined in claim 1, further comprising a layer of adhesive material on the exterior surface of said planar plate portion for adhesively adhering said junction box to a mounting surface.
 4. A junction box as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one aperture in said planar plate portion proportioned to receive a fastener therethrough for affixing said junction box to a mounting surface.
 5. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising first and second side walls coupled to said planar plate portion and extending in the direction of said interior surface and at least one aperture in one of said first and second side walls to permit the passage of electrical conductors through the associated side wall into said junction box.
 6. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising first and second side walls coupled to said planar plate portion and extending in the direction of said interior surface; at least one aperture in one of said first and second side walls to permit the passage of electrical conductors through the associated side wall into said junction box; a first end wall coupled to said planar plate portion and said first and second side walls; a further aperture in said end wall to permit the passage of terminal members through said end wall into said junction box; and strain relief means engagable with said terminal members mounted on said end wall adjacent said further aperture.
 7. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising strain relief means coupled to said second planar surface of said intermediate member adjacent the free ends of said first arm of said conductor connector for receiving and strain relieving electrical conductors placed between said pair of legs of said second arm.
 8. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising: at least one conductor retaining channel extending inwardly from said second end of said intermediate member towards said second arm to retain the free ends of electrical conductors positioned in said insulating piercing channel of said second arm.
 9. A junction box, as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a cover member formed of insulating material and having a first end and a second end; hinge means coupled between said second end of said cover member and said base member adjacent said second end of said intermediate member and further selectively operable locking means coupled between said first end of said cover member and said base member adjacent said first end of said intermediate member to lock together said cover member and said base member. 